Statement on Public Toilet Changes – Environment & Facilities Committee Decision (16 October 2025)
We know that public toilets are a vital local service, and we want to explain in more detail the recent decisions made by the Environment & Facilities Committee regarding Newquay’s public conveniences.
At their meeting on Thursday 16 October 2025, the Committee agreed to:
- Close Pentire Headland Toilets, due to Cornwall Council choosing to transfer Pentire Headland car park to the Cornish Heritage Trust
- Close Chester Road Toilets due to low usage
- Reduce the number of cubicles open during winter at other sites – while always keeping at least one accessible toilet open (except when essential repairs are needed).
These decisions were not taken lightly and come after many months of discussion about how to protect and sustain this service in the face of rising costs and vandalism.
Date :
17th October
Categories :
Background: Pentire Headland Toilets
Background: Pentire Headland Toilets
The Town Council originally took on these toilets from Cornwall Council alongside several other facilities, on the understanding that the associated car park would also be devolved to help fund their long-term maintenance.
Cornwall Council has since chosen to transfer that car park to the Cornwall Heritage Trust instead. This change meant the Council’s agreed funding model for Pentire Headland could no longer work.
Since learning of that decision, the Town Council has been in communication with the Cornwall Heritage Trust about their potential taking on of the Pentire Headland toilets. We have shared information with them and held several meetings, and we now await their decision.
The Committee therefore decided to close the toilets at Pentire Headland and Chester Road. The Council remains open to partnership working with the Cornwall Heritage Trust, given that the vast majority of use at Pentire Headland is from car park visitors.
Why Are Wider Service Changes Needed?
Newquay Town Council currently operates around 13 public toilet sites — more than any other town in Cornwall — at a total annual cost of approximately £400,000.
While some towns have had to close their public toilets or decided not to take on some or all of theirs from Cornwall Council, Newquay Town Council took on all of its facilities when they were devolved. Apart from the Beach Road toilets, which were sold due to a lack of investment before transfer from Cornwall Council, and the station toilets, we have kept all facilities open and even invested in a new Changing Places facility on the Killacourt to improve accessibility as well as toilets at the Train station and Concrete Waves.
Despite this strong record, the Council continues to face:
- Escalating utility, staffing, and maintenance costs
- Frequent vandalism and antisocial behaviour, including damage and drug-related waste that requires specialist disposal
- Limited use at certain sites, particularly Chester Road, which has seen very low daily footfall
- Ongoing capital investment due to regular overhauls of the sites
As a result, the Committee agreed that difficult decisions were needed to safeguard the wider service for the long term. Reducing winter openings and closing less-used sites will help focus limited funds on maintaining and improving the busiest and most essential toilets.
Our Commitment
We understand that public toilets are viewed by many as an essential public service. That’s why Newquay Town Council has worked hard over many years to keep them open, clean, and well maintained, when many towns have not been able to.
However, we must balance that commitment with financial sustainability and value for money for residents — most of whom do not regularly use these facilities.
We will continue to:
- Ensure an accessible cubicle remains open at all key sites year-round (except when closed for unavoidable repair)
- Review charging options at busier sites to help offset running costs
Why Close the Toilets?
We understand this decision is disappointing for some residents. Unfortunately, the Council faces significant cost increases, vandalism, and damage across multiple sites. These changes aim to protect the wider service so it can continue for years to come.
Why Pentire Headland Toilets?
The toilets at Pentire Headland were originally transferred from Cornwall Council on the basis that the car park would also come to the Town Council as part of a future devolution package to help fund them. Cornwall Council has since transferred the car park to the Cornwall Heritage Trust, so the original funding model no longer works. We’re awaiting a decision from the Trust on whether they may take on the toilets.
Why Chester Road Toilets?
Chester Road has consistently had very low daily use compared with other sites, yet the standard costs for regular cleaning, maintenance and standing charges are similar. Reducing the number of low-use facilities helps the Council focus resources on busier sites used by far more people.
Why is Vandalism being blamed for these closures?
Sadly, vandalism is a major and ongoing issue. You can see the impact in our recent post about the Skatepark Toilets, which had to close after being completely destroyed: Facebook Repairs like these cost thousands and divert funds from other sites.
Why are reducing cubicles at other sites during the winter?
Scaling back the number of cubicles during the winter helps reduce cleaning, electricity, and maintenance costs while still keeping facilities available. We’ll always ensure at least one accessible toilet remains open at each site unless urgent repairs are needed and in those instances, we will do everything possible to provide alternative provision.
Other towns manage their toilet facilities, why can't Newquay Town Council?
Every town has handled toilet provision differently. Some have had to close theirs or chose not to take all facilities on. Newquay Town Council took on all of ours, has kept them open ever since (apart from Beach Road and the station toilets), and even delivered a new Changing Places facility on the Killacourt for accessibility and new facilities at the Train station and Concrete Waves.
Why does it cost £400,000 to maintain Newquay's public toilets?
The £400,000 annual cost is due to several contributing factors:
- High visitor numbers, especially in summer, lead to frequent cleaning and maintenance.
- Operational costs such as staff wages, cleaning supplies, utilities, and waste disposal have steadily increased.
- Year-round service means most toilets are open 364 days a year, requiring consistent upkeep.
- Vandalism and damage result in additional repair and replacement expenses.
- Limited income from usage fees (even at 50p per use) doesn’t cover the full cost of running the facilities.
Newquay Town Council has covered much of this cost for years, but rising expenses have made it increasingly difficult to sustain.
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